• No EU referendum
    We, the undersigned members of Unite, were disappointed by Unite's decision, announced on 2 July 2014, to urge the Labour Party to commit to holding a referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union.[1] We believe this decision by Unite's Executive Council was a mistake. It does not reflect our wishes, it was taken without consulting Unite's members, and it demonstrates race-to-the-bottom politics. We believe the UK should remain a member of the EU because membership enhances UK workers' rights, including via the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.[2] We believe the best way to ensure the UK remains a member of the EU is for political parties to reject referendum calls and instead make the case for continued membership. With no referendum, there would be no risk of the UK exiting the EU. We note that the Conservative Party rejected the Charter when previously in power, and that it is only thanks to the Labour Party that it covers UK workers.[3] We note that because the Conservatives have committed to a parliamentary vote in favour of an in/out referendum on the EU, the only realistic prospect of avoiding such a referendum and saving the Charter is for the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats to commit themselves against such a vote.[4] The Liberal Democrats have already done this.[5] We emphasise that neither this petition, nor the act it requests, brings any injury to or discredit upon Unite or any member of Unite. On the contrary, the act requested would strengthen Unite by demonstrating Unite's commitment to the EU's protection of worker's rights, and would help to forge a Labour Party that will provide a real alternative to the Conservative Party in opposition and at the next General Election. REFERENCES: [1] http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/unite-urges-labour-party-to-hold-eu-referendum/ [2] http://ec.europa.eu/justice/fundamental-rights/charter/index_en.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charter_of_Fundamental_Rights_of_the_European_Union&oldid=614017036#Legal_status [3] http://socialrights.net/community-charter-of-fundamental-social-rights-of-workers/ [4] http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/02/david-cameron-eu-referendum-pledge-disaster [5] http://www.libdems.org.uk/european_election_manifesto_2014 Image source and license: https://secure.flickr.com/photos/skuds/3736995016/
    12 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Sam Kuper
  • Remove VAT from children's shoes
    Parents are often paying this tax for ten years; during which children can need three pairs of shoes a year. This is an unreasonable burden on household budgets already under strain.
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    Created by Ann Goddard
  • Save Strood's Bryant Road Library
    Because The Library here is quiet and 302 people petitioned against the move and The Council took no notice of 5000 signed signitures We had tones of meeting with them still no notice was taken We have to stop them David Cameron would not interveen with the Medway Council our Facebook page get ignored so what next please
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    Created by Daren Terry
  • CANVEY KEEPS FLOODING – PETITON FOR CHANGE
    Following the recent bout of flooding, yet again affecting many householders and businesses on this Island, we now believe it is time to make our voices heard. We want and need to get results from Essex County Council, Castle Point Borough Council, Canvey Island Town Council and the Environment Agency, to ensure that the present infrastructure of drainage is upgraded to be able to cope with the increasing number of homes and businesses on the Island and to ensure proper maintenance of the pumps around the Island keeping them fully operational at all times. Too many people have been affected too many times by flooding that could be avoided. Loss of personal belongings, damage to buildings and property, losses to businesses - this is a problem that will not go away without these agencies addressing it fully and that time is now.
    99 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Anne Earl
  • No house building on London's Green Belt
    London is a huge city which could spread out for many miles more if allowed to. The Green Belt was created to allow Londoners to have some fresh air and nature, trees, plants and animals which is vital for our mental and physical health. London does not need to be any bigger than it already is.
    112 of 200 Signatures
    Created by Jenny Almeida
  • Ethical Sponsorship in Football
    Football is traditionally a working class sport with a significant proportion of supporters being of a low income background. This is particularly the case where Blackburn Rovers FC are a relatively small club, where the majority of its fan base is in Blackburn itself. The town arguably has more social deprivation than many in the UK, and as such, the population is likely to be more vulnerable to be taken advantage of by fee charging claims management companies, debt advice companies etc. Blackburn Rovers FC is the most important organisation to the town of Blackburn in the 21st century, and there is therefore a moral duty for it to reflect the needs of the community around it. The football club would gain significant respect if it were to display charities such as the Citizens Advice Bureau and Step Change or an ethical private company such as Payplan on its shirts. This would be a statement that the club acknowledges the level of financial difficulty a large proportion of the town and its fan base faces. It would also encourage other football clubs to do the same where fans are feeling increasingly distanced from their football clubs with television deals coming into hundreds of millions of pounds and accusations of tax evasion now commonplace.
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    Created by Richard Godley
  • The BBC should report what's happening in the world and the UK not what it thinks we should hear.
    Next time it may be an issue you feel strongly about that is reported less than fairly. You may not agree with my politics but everyone on 38 degrees seems to agree that we should always get the best information. On the 15th of July there will be 1000's protesting outside the BBC. See if they report it, because they did not report the 10,000 outside the Israeli embassy last Friday.
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    Created by karen bett
  • Save Kew Gardens funding.
    Kew Garden is the largest oldest and biggest repository of plants and plant research in the world. The Governments and Defra's irresponsible action in cutting its grant aid and nudging it towards privatisation is a sacrilege, when we are dealing with the world's greatest. Rather our Government fund our own world ranking expertise than waste money on funding countries like India with overseas aid.It has achieved fame for being the world's greatest centre for botanical research, a place where the planet's rarest plant and tree species are preserved and studied. But now Kew Gardens, established more than 200 years ago, is set to become the focus of an international battle following an intervention by renowned biologist Jane Goodall, who has denounced a recently inflicted budget cut as "unbelievably stupid". Goodall, who carried out pioneering work on the behaviour of chimps, has written to the environment secretary, Owen Paterson, urging him to hand out £5m to restore the centre's budget in the wake of financial cuts imposed by the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs. "To read that 125 professional staff members are set to lose their jobs because of cuts in government funding is shocking," Goodall says. In an interview with the Observer, she revealed that she had made contact with several Kew scientists while researching her book, Seeds of Hope. "There is a tremendous feeling of anger and frustration there and I share it. This an unbelievably stupid thing to do. This is the mother of all other botanical research centres. Britain should be proud of it, not dismantling it. It is like tearing up the union jack. That is why I wrote my letter. I want my protest to go viral. I want thousands and thousands of people to protest as well." Last month a petition demanding the restoration of Kew's budget – signed by more than 100,000 people – was handed to 10 Downing Street, while 34 MPs signed an early-day motion expressing alarm "that vital international conservation work would be threatened should further cuts take place" at Kew.
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    Created by mick goddard
  • To secure a piece of land for the community
    Please see the body of the petition
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    Created by Amal Basu
  • Commonwealth Games: Please address sustainability concerns
    Glasgow 2014 has touted how sustainable the Games are, yet there are glaring inconsistencies in the way the Games have been organised.[1] The Commonwealth Games is a showcase for Glasgow. Right from the beginning sustainability has been a key issue for the organisers. Yet they chose to partner up with BP [2]. In recent months Glasgow has been the focus of a high profile campaign by Friends of the Earth Scotland on air pollution [3]. The City has the worst record for air pollution in the UK next to London and the 5th worst in Europe [4]. Part of the Games policy was to introduce low emissions zones around venues. This policy has just been dumped [5]. In the run up to the Games, Glasgow City Council has rolled out charging points around the City for electric cars. 'Sustainable Glasgow has installed new charging sites in the city centre and at sporting venues around the city. In total, the new sites will be able to accommodate 22 cars at a time. 'The council itself has 36 electric vehicles including four Nissan Leaf pool cars and two electric street sweepers. Two of the Nissans have been branded with eye-catching Sustainable Glasgow artwork. ...Electric vehicles help reduce air and noise pollution. Making Glasgow a more sustainable city makes it a more pleasant place to live, which benefits residents, visitors and businesses alike.' [6] In view of the above, why then has BP been invited - as a partner - to provide fuel for Glasgow 2014 Games vehicles? [7] Dirty fossil fuel companies like BP need sporting events and other high profile events in order to legitimise their brand. Its the same strategy that tobacco companies used to use. Its called 'Social Licence'. [8]. Tobacco advertising is now outlawed and the writing is on the wall for dirty fossil fuel companies. There is no room in sport for dirty oil. Lets sent this message loud and clear to Glasgow 2014. 1 - http://bit.ly/1sxhwIU 2 - BP GETS SET TO FUEL THE GLASGOW 2014 COMMONWEALTH GAMES http://bit.ly/VKidnr 3 - Air Pollution: A Silent Killer http://bit.ly/TSKDKi 4 - Glasgow has highest level of toxic pollution in UK http://bit.ly/1mIWqHY 5 - Glasgow 2014: Low emission zones promise 'broken' http://bbc.in/1sxhIYx 6 - Glasgow to offer free charging for electric cars http://bit.ly/1je1d3j 7 - BP joins sponsors of 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games http://reut.rs/1qjGutZ 8 - Obtaining a social licence to operate – a challenge for the industry http://bit.ly/1negam1
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    Created by Barry Dalgleish
  • A more relevant Vehicle Road Tax system
    Cars today [2014] are essential, this may because local transport is lacking or the many reasons why so many Brit's commute. Many cars have only one occupant. Cars have become Egotistical Status symbols. They are lasting longer and longer and are now so cheap to buy (pre-owned) the UK has a log-jam problem and a serious parking problem. The current Gov's Road Tax system is abused and should be geared to the smaller car whilst penalising i.e. - HUGE 4x4's used totally out of context.
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    Created by Mike Kelly Picture
  • Commit the UK to getting corporations to respect humans!
    As UK and EU citizens, and human beings, we can not accept this. We call on David Cameron to immediately reverse the UK's stance. If we do not do this then how can the UK or the EU pretend to be democratic communities? If you are an EU citizen and you care about Human Rights, please sign this petition. Links: http://seedfreedom.in/un-to-outlaw-corporations-human-rights-abuses/ http://www.ipsnews.net/2014/06/eu-aims-to-scuttle-treaty-on-human-rights-abuses/
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    Created by Charlotte Haworth